Governor McCrory and Senior Education Advisor Erik Guckian recently set forth the following education pathways to the North Carolina Education Cabinet. Here are the five specific pathways:
Prosperity and Jobs for Graduates – The governor’s plan calls for more students earning associates and bachelor degrees from the state’s community colleges and universities. It also calls for an increase of students attaining more industry approved certificates and degrees. The governor also wants a commitment from businesses to hire more North Carolina graduates.
A Rewarding Career for Teachers and Principals – This goal calls for innovative ways to significantly increase teacher salaries as well as devise meaningful rewards for the most productive educators. On the assessment side, the plan envisions fewer, but more meaningful classroom assessments and tests. It also wants more comprehensive measures, beyond student performance, of teacher and principal effectiveness.
A Joy of Reading and Math for Every Child –Every student must be a proficient reader by the third grade and early education options are key in reaching that goal. This goal calls for meaningful and reliable measures of student literacy progress to be in place as well as teacher support.
Excellent Innovative Learning Options for Families – This goal supports the expansion of high quality charter schools with a focus on academic excellence and diverse student populations. It also envisions a digital E-Learning agenda that can be accessed by students from early learning to adulthood.
Cost Effectiveness for Taxpayers – This goal envisions a shared budget for some or all education initiatives for the next legislative session. It also looks to reward and replicate effective education practices while eliminating those that are unproductive.